Arrest of Two Swindlers in Poipet: Duo Accused of Swindling Victims out of 300 Million Baht
In a shocking revelation, the Cyber Crime Investigation Division has arrested two suspects involved in a transnational call center scam operating in Chiang Mai and Phuket. The scam, which targeted Thai citizens, was part of a larger network involving Thai, Cambodian, and potentially Chinese entities.
The suspects, posing as government officials, instructed victims to transfer money to "close" their cases. The authorities have requested warrants for the suspects and other individuals involved in the operation, but no information has been provided on the status of these warrants.
The call center scam was meticulously organised, with four distinct roles: Line 1 (contacting victims), Line 2 (following up with victims), Line 3 (posing as a Colonel), and support roles (creating fake official documents and managing mule accounts for financial transfers).
The gang also used attractive profiles to deceive victims into investing in cryptocurrency, leading to the arrest of the suspects who confessed to their involvement. One of the suspects admitted to successfully deceiving a victim into transferring 12 million baht, for which they were promised a 3.5% commission and a monthly salary of 25,000 baht.
The money transferred into the suspects' accounts may also be linked to the "Poi Pret (ghost release) Company" operation, currently under investigation by the Anti-Trafficking Police Division.
The call center operation is believed to have funnelled funds into a Cambodian entity known as the "Huione Group." The funds are often laundered through multiple intermediary accounts and converted into cryptocurrency before being converted back into cash or other assets. However, the exact role of the Huione Group and its legitimacy are still under investigation.
Cambodia has been exposed as a hub for transnational human trafficking and cybercrime, with compounds used to house victims forced into scamming operations. These compounds are often heavily guarded and repurposed from former casinos and hotels.
The investigation has uncovered evidence linking the suspects to a Chinese-run call center gang based in the Phuri Casino in Poipet, Cambodia. The UN and other international bodies have issued warnings and reports highlighting the scale of these operations, which may lead to increased international cooperation to combat these crimes.
So far, the Cyber Police have gathered evidence and obtained warrants for 76 individuals linked to the scam, with 46 arrests made. The victims made a total of 147 payments, amounting to approximately 308 million baht, and were transferred into 79 mule accounts.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities continuing to verify the full extent of the suspects' connections to organized criminal networks. It is important to note that the investigation is not linked to the "CARAT Thailand 2025" event happening in Chonburi or the severe flooding and mudslides in thirty-three Thai provinces.
The Thai Government whip will withdraw the Entertainment Complex Bill on July 9, unrelated to the call center scam investigation. The authorities are urging citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
- The transnational call center scam, involving political figures imitating government officials, has been linked to finance crimes and general news, as authorities are investigating fund transfers that may be linked to the "Poi Pret (ghost release) Company" and the "Huione Group" in Cambodia.
- The latest crime-and-justice news from Thailand reveals an ongoing investigation into a scam operation, where suspects fraudulently deceived victims by instructing them to transfer money and even recruited individuals to create fake documents for financial transfers.
- The Thai Government urges citizens to stay vigilant amidst the ongoing call center scam investigation, considering the complexity of the operations that span various regions, including Phuket and Chiang Mai, and may involve Thai, Cambodian, and Chinese entities. The UN and other international bodies have highlighted the severity of such crimes, emphasizing the need for increased international cooperation against human trafficking and cybercrime.
